The Governor's courtyard was full of various colorful flowers, each in a different pose.
Noticing the movement, Greene and Illyrio both shifted their gaze in one direction.
The first thing Greene saw was the faint silver light shimmering on a purple figure.
With silver hair and purple eyes, a petite and well-proportioned figure, a hint of timidity in her expression, but unable to conceal her exceptional beauty.
So young and already… white-haired, Greene smiled faintly.
Greene bowed, placing his hand over his chest: "Good day, Princess! I am the Earl of Whispers, Greene Kleber, and it is an honor to meet you."
After Daenerys saw Greene's face clearly, her beautiful eyes widened slightly.
The half-savage she imagined should be stout, burly, and fierce-looking; no one knew how much courage she had mustered to come here.
The half-savage her brother spoke of was tall and thin, dressed in a blue robe, with a long sword at his waist, and a pair of deerskin boots under his white trousers.
The fair-skinned "half-savage" with dark hair and brown eyes had an outstanding appearance, with delicate features but no effeminacy, exuding a composure that didn't match his age.
Is this the half-savage noble, Earl Greene? Her heart immediately stopped resisting contact with the person in front of her.
Seeing Daenerys staring motionless at Greene, Illyrio, who was beside her, had to speak up: "Princess Daenerys, the Kleber Family can truly be said to be a model of loyal old vassals to the Targaryen. Although you are far away in Essos, they have always been concerned about your safety."
Daenerys came back to her senses, hastily withdrew her gaze, and lowered her head slightly, her small face a mix of shyness and embarrassment.
Daenerys then cautiously glanced at Greene out of the corner of her eye, and seeing no unusual expression from Greene, she secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
After listening to Illyrio's words, Greene's eyebrows raised slightly.
Was Illyrio hinting at something?
Daenerys composed herself, her voice clear: "Welcome, Earl Greene."
Daenerys extended the back of her hand towards Greene; her delicate, smooth skin appeared even fairer under the sunlight.
Greene bent down, gently held Daenerys's small hand, and symbolically touched it.
After the greeting, Illyrio smiled and said: "Princess Daenerys, I think you and Earl Greene have a lot to talk about."
With that, Illyrio waved his hand, signaling the attendants to follow him out of the courtyard, leaving only Greene and Daenerys.
The perceptive Greene had long noticed that Daenerys had been trying to maintain her composure.
The unawakened Daenerys seemed like a very ordinary pretty girl… No, with the heavy identity of a Targaryen, she was actually quite pitiful at this moment.
In the original story, Daenerys paid the price of losing her brother, the Horse King, and her child before awakening her Queenly nature. If she could start over, would Daenerys be willing?
Greene's smile was gentle: "Princess, is something troubling you greatly?"
After speaking, Greene didn't wait for Daenerys's reply, observed the flower bushes, and then began to pluck various delicate-looking flowers, still attached to their branches.
When Daenerys noticed Greene's actions, her small mouth opened, she moved it slightly, but didn't know how to speak.
Greene's hands didn't stop, and he said with a smile: "Princess, don't worry, it won't leave any traces."
Driven by curiosity, Daenerys couldn't help but move closer to Greene to watch.
Greene's plucking was indeed very skillful; if she hadn't first seen the increasing number of flowers in Greene's hands, the surface looked no different than usual.
Daenerys's heart beat a little faster; she felt a thrilling sense of secretly doing something mischievous with Greene.
Greene's hands were fair, slender, and well-defined, just as beautiful as her brother's.
Is he going to give me flowers? Daenerys, secretly pleased, temporarily forgot Greene's blatant act of pilfering.
Greene stopped when the quantity was about right, and sat directly on the edge of the flowerbed.
Greene did not give her the plucked flowers as she had thought, but instead began to fiddle with the flower branches, seemingly to weave something.
Does the Earl like to play with flowers? Daenerys couldn't help but feel a little disappointed.
Daenerys then remembered her brother's task, but didn't know where to start.
Greene looked up at Daenerys, who was hesitating to speak, and said gently: "Princess, do you need my assistance with your troubles?"
Daenerys couldn't help but nod her small head, her clear voice slightly nervous: "Earl Greene, you… I… Can you pledge your allegiance to me?"
Daenerys found that she couldn't weave beautiful words, but she didn't back down and chose to speak directly.
Greene's hands paused, and he retorted: "I can consider it, but… shouldn't you first let me know what I would gain if I pledged allegiance to you?"
Greene's tone was gentle, without any hint of mockery, as if stating something very ordinary.
Daenerys also didn't feel that Greene was deliberately making things difficult for her.
Yes, what can I give him now? This was a question she had never thought of.
Daenerys's eyes reddened; she thought of the answer she least wanted to face: she only had… her body, which her brother despised so much.
She didn't want to awaken her brother's sleeping dragon's rage, and she was even more afraid that a disappointed brother would abandon her.
Daenerys took a deep breath, gritted her teeth, her cheeks turned crimson, as if she had finally made up her mind.
The current Daenerys was a pitiful little girl who was being manipulated at will; the kind-hearted Greene's original intention was to teach her the basics of the game of power incidentally.
Daenerys's current demeanor was very much like Impa, who had misunderstood Greene's words at that time.
Greene had always understood that he was the one who was different from ordinary people in this world.
Greene stood up and reached out to grasp Daenerys's small hand that had already climbed onto his shoulder.
Greene sensed Daenerys's trembling at this moment.
Greene calmly placed the woven flower crown gently on Daenerys's head.
"At a tournament in Westeros, the champion can choose the most beautiful unmarried woman present and crown her with a wreath made of flowers, called the Queen of Love and Beauty."
Greene stepped back and said, "Princess Daenerys, I am the presumed champion of the next tournament, and I have the right to crown you in advance."
This seemed a bit different from what her brother had said? Daenerys felt Greene's sincerity and kindness, which made her unconsciously reveal a natural and innocent smile.
Daenerys blinked; she noticed that Greene's appearance had changed, he suddenly became even more handsome than Viserys.
Facing the little girl staring at him intently, Greene smiled.
Greene's smile was dazzling, and Daenerys immediately felt her cheeks flush, and she lowered her head shyly.
The atmosphere was too warm, Greene lightly coughed and said: "Princess Daenerys, let me guess, did someone ask you to gain my allegiance?"
Daenerys remembered her brother's sleeping dragon's rage, which jolted her out of her momentary sweetness.
Daenerys looked at Greene; his gentle face made it hard not to feel a sense of goodwill.
Daenerys whispered: "I only have myself now."
Greene shook his head slightly: "A true dragon would not marry a half-savage noble, as everyone calls them."
Has he already known? Daenerys's pupils constricted, and she quickly denied: "Earl Greene, you are not a half-savage, that is a misconception."
Greene shrugged: "The world doesn't care about the truth, unless… until my sword is at their chest, then they will be willing to face some issues they don't want to confront. Princess Daenerys, power comes from the sword in your hand."
The sword in his hand? Daenerys suppressed the tremor in her heart and glanced at the long sword at Greene's waist.
Her brother also had a beautiful sword, but she knew her brother didn't understand swordsmanship; it was merely an ornament to display his kingly status.
Thinking of this, Daenerys suddenly felt as if she vaguely understood something, though it wasn't very clear.
"Princess, you are still young, and the road ahead is long; there is no need to worry."
Clap! Clap!
After Greene clapped his hands, two rather robust female figures soon walked over in Daenerys's eyes.
Under Daenerys's questioning gaze, Greene introduced: "I'd like to introduce them to you; they are sisters. The one on the left is Borona, and the one on the right is Othana. They were formerly centurions of the Kleber Family's Thorn Legion. If you wish, starting today, they will serve as your handmaidens."
Although Daenerys didn't understand swords, her intuition told her that Borona and Othana were very capable guards.
Daenerys wanted to agree immediately, but she worried that her brother might get angry because of her self-assertion.
Daenerys also remembered the handmaiden who had died protecting her.
Greene read the hesitation in Daenerys's eyes: "Princess Daenerys, you can do it if you wish; I will personally handle Governor Illyrio."
Daenerys shook her head and said: "Earl Greene, thank you for your kindness; I will always remember it. Thank you, and I will protect both of them!"
Only now did Daenerys realize that she too could be very brave.
The tragedy of that handmaiden would absolutely not be repeated!
Greene nodded slightly: "Their status is that of Kleber centurions, employed by you, answerable only to you, and loyal only to you."
Having said that, Greene turned to Borona and Othana and said: "Warrior Borona, Warrior Othana, do you understand your duties?"
Borona and Othana gripped the hilts of their swords, straightened their bodies, and simultaneously replied loudly: "Yes, Lord Greene!"
Greene spread his hands and said: "Anyone who harms them without your permission is equivalent to declaring war on Kleber."
By now, Daenerys had a general understanding of why Viserys wanted to "buy off" Earl Greene; Greene commanded the troops that Viserys valued most.
Her brother's greatest wish was to reclaim the Iron Throne, and even for the Iron Throne, she believed her brother would not harm her new handmaidens, which finally put Daenerys completely at ease.
No matter what, the tragedy of that handmaiden would absolutely not be repeated by her.
...
Greene held up a finger and said: "There's one more thing."
"The Iron Throne has never trusted the Kleber Family; it's been that way since the war more than a decade ago. So, I cannot stay in Pentos for too long."
Although it was their first meeting, Greene gave her a sense of security she had never experienced before, a feeling that came suddenly and wonderfully.
Now, hearing that Greene would be leaving soon, Daenerys's small face could not hide her disappointment.
Daenerys timidly said: "Didn't they send you to hunt… us? If you go back now, will you be blamed?"
Greene shrugged and said: "I am also the Queen's Chief Steward there; I need to attend to that as well."
The Queen's Chief Steward?
Seeing Daenerys's confusion, Greene smiled and explained: "It's a bit like a squire, but with more freedom than a squire."
Greene's squire? Daenerys snickered, not knowing what she had thought of.
Greene smiled faintly, then shrugged again.
After laughing, Greene continued: "One of my kinsmen will remain in Pentos. He made a small mistake, and also for convenience, he will operate here as a Kleber bastard.
His name is Dick. Dick is thin and tall. Hmm, he looks like a thief. These features are enough to identify him."
Looks like a thief?
Daenerys couldn't help but laugh out loud again.
Greene explained helplessly: "These are unavoidable features, but you can try to trust him. I will leave him at the Kleber Trading Post in Pentos."
...
...
Highgarden, the Riverlands.
Tap, tap, tap… Margaery Tyrell's footsteps were much faster than usual.
As she approached the terrace garden, Margaery gradually slowed her pace, returning to her normal walking speed.
Margaery saw her grandmother and father, and after approaching, she first curtsied with a slight lift of her skirt.
Mace Tyrell stroked his beard and said with a smile: "My dear Margaery, my daughter, as soon as you appear, even the most beautiful flowers will fade in comparison."
Margaery's grandmother, Olenna Redwyne (the Queen of Thorns), glanced sideways at her son and said: "Duke Mace, you certainly do add color to these flowers."
Duke Mace laughed heartily, completely unbothered by his mother's sarcasm, instead acting as if he had received her praise.
Although she had often heard her grandmother satirize her father since childhood, Margaery always found herself unable to stop laughing whenever she heard it.
Looking at her carefree son, Lady Olenna snorted at Duke Mace.
Lady Olenna turned to her granddaughter and said kindly: "Margaery, didn't you say you were going to embroider just now? Why did you come back?"
Margaery immediately reined in the smile on her face and said: "Grandmother, Father, the Prime Minister has sent a letter."
Duke Mace hastily spoke up: "Margaery, is there news?"
Margaery nodded and said: "Father, King's Hand Duke Jon Arryn has invited you to the Red Keep to serve as Duke Jon's Prime Minister Advisor. You are now one of the candidates for the next Prime Minister."
Duke Mace was first stunned, then murmured: "Greene, he is indeed reliable; I did not misjudge him."
Duke Mace immediately stood up excitedly, stroked his beard, and exclaimed: "Mother, Margaery, this time it's finally our Golden Rose Family's turn to sit in the King's Hand position!"
Olenna found Duke Mace's current appearance a bit unbearable to watch, and extended her hand towards Margaery: "Margaery, is there anything else?"
Margaery handed over the letter with both hands: "Grandmother, the list of Prime Minister candidates is a bit surprising."
Lady Olenna looked at Margaery, whose expression was a bit solemn, and squinted her eyes as she read the contents of the letter.
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